The Centrum (DCU Center) tended to produce strong shows. The same is true for late '83. Sept. is better, but for October this is a good place to start. On the one hand this has what may be the year's top Playing in the Band. On the other, the SBD is mixed with a kick drum dominating the L channel, making headphones a difficult proposition.

First Set. It's a shaky start for Music Never Stopped, but they warm up and Jer takes off, stretching it to one of the longest versions. This was the second MNS opener in '83 – maybe they were remembering the magic of Santa Fe. I dig the tone of this Loser, the little Bobby injections, and the great solo. See, See Rider Blues has serious Bobby's Slide Practice™ but is otherwise solid. After a fine, uptempo Cumberland is a bright, brisk Cassidy. You can breathe when it's over. Ramble On Rose would be standard, but Phil & Bobby put it over on details. The rest of the set is above average, with one of the longest versions of Big Railroad (must hear once). It's the end jam of Promised Land that really seals the stretch. It's an aggressive set, so if that appeals...

Second Set. If you listen closely, there's a Happy Birthday tuning for Brent. Scarlet has good verses but the jam section really builds; overall a winner. Fire on the Mountain takes up a lot of the second set real estate. Even if not one of the best from '83, it's one of the longest ever, and the thing is just a monster. Note that Uncle John's is a rare third Jerry song in a row, which is why this is the only time Fire was followed by Uncle John's Band. It's solid enough, but this Playing is hotter than soup. At 9½mins into Space, listen for Bobby teasing Sage & Spirit. Sweet Jane has her frontal lobes changed, but otherwise Truckin' just gets by. Bobby adds interest to Wharf Rat, and even if he close to being sapped, I Need a Miracle is sent with assurance. That peak is followed by a Touch of Grey trough. It had been moving around as a set bookend or encore, and in this slot it's full of flubs. Jer doubles the solo to try to prevent a full trainwreck. At this point the fader on the kick drum goes on the boil unnoticed, so AUDs are better. Plus guitars and keys are off, on the SBD, for the first 10secs of Johnny B. Goode (present on AUDs, though most clip the beginning; try 111388_Sennheiser421).

1st Set:  B-
2nd Set: C+
Overall = 3¼ stars

Highlights:
Loser – tone & Bobby
Cassidy – brisk, breath-bating
Scarlet Begonias – keeps getting better
Playing in the Band – peak '83
I Need a Miracle – concise and Bobby giving his last

SOURCES: The clugston_5557 is the original SBD, and runs a bit slow, needing +1% pitch correction. If the poor mix [isolated kick drum] is untenable, try the Seamons MTX or an AUD. Most AUD sources are various copies of the Silberman tape. The 156193_senn441 is the upgrade. They need -1% pitch, except -3% for Johnny B Goode. The show is on 30 Trips, with the kick drum filtered a little. Definitive Live has My Brother Esau

The build-up in Truckin' to what would've been the most awesomest peak every just kinda petered out right at the clutch moment. It sounds like Jer just wanted to keep building it up, but someone (maybe a drummer) went to the peak moment too soon and ruined it! Bummer, but at least a nice solid Wharf Rat follows.

Great show all the way through....Scarlet>Fire lovers take a listen...this one is a peach! Lush sound on this SBD.

The sound is awesome. if I had one comment, it would be that I think personally that the vocals are set to high in the mix. I would also tweak up Jerry's guitar just a little more. My first show was the night before. I missed this one because I had no ticket as a freshman at Clark U in Worcester.

This show basically kicks ass from start to finish...

This was a high energy show from beginning to end, and often quite cosmic, especially the 2nd set (which featured Garcia opening and closing this set). I would point out the hi-lites but pretty much every song is a hi-lite. It is to be noted that this was on Brent's birthday.